Binding post



Sept. 29, 1931. A. SCHNEIDER 1,825,130

BINDING POST Filed Jan. 12, 1928 \\\\IIIIII ,i lilfimi: v ullllll:

IN V EN TOR. 51W 5 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE .AZDOLI SUENEID'ERfGF BROOKLYN, YORK, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALFTOARTHUR A. SCHNEIDER, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY .nmnme rosr Application'filed --.[anuary 12, "1828. vSerial No. 246,200.

invention relates .tofastening devices for wire, stays, fcables, wireterminals and similar articles. I 7

One object ofmyinvention is \to provide a simple, inexpensive andelfective device of this kind which will prevent the disengagement ofthe clamped .down article from itsintendedpos'ition.

.Aznother object .of my invention to prom wide within my device, means.for holding such articles attached thereto,.under constant tension, andprevent the means whereby the articleisiastenedfrom voluntarilyloosening.

The foregoing and ifiurtherobjects will be I more fully apparent fromthe followingdescription and .the accompanying drawings, tormingpartiofthisf-inventiomand in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a preferred .form of my device,

m Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view theretlrrough,

Figure 3 .is a detail view .of thelower portion of my device,

.Figure .4 is amodifid .tonn thereof,

5 Figure .5 illustratesa modifiediorm of my device, which issomewhatsimplified 1 1110011- struction,

Figure 6 illustrates the application of .my device toe-n attaching'bolt,

m Figure .7 illustrates a detail view of a part of Figure .6,

Figure 7a representsan expanded springaas used in my device,

Figure .8 illustrates a modified form of 5 thedevioeshowninIFigurefi,

Figure ;-9 illustrates :another modified form of my device shown inFigure2,

Figure .10 is still another modification of my device ina-si-nrplevform.

Referring to Figures 1, .2, 3 and 4, there is shown :a body .10 which is:bored and drilled for a belt or screw .11 which passes through the hodyoutwards. The head 12 ofthe'screw or bolt remains within the body asshown in 45 Figure 2. The belt, passing through the the nut is turned in.thedireotion opposite .to

body, first is engaged by a terminal rest 13, which is stationary. Theupper portion of 'theibolt is engagedby a. specially designed nut 14,provided with recesses 15, adapted to be engaged by a specially designedkey or m wrench.

Nut 14 is provided with a springseat 16'and a reduced ,portion 17 whichserves as .a guide or shank .for coil spring 18. This spring ispreferably so constructed that its upper .reduced end,restingagainstseat 16, will :freely glide thereupon no matter in whichdirection the nut is turned. -The lower end portion of the spring, onthe other hand, is pointy and adapted to engage the bottom of cup 19when a that in which the spring is wound, as will be explainedpresently. The cup forms the .outer guide for .the spring, and providesa clamping face.20, shownin detail in Figure 3, under whichaterminal or:the end of a wire or cable may be-readily disposed, and by means ofwhich the cable may be held in position, while the cable on theotherhand holds cup 19 againstrotation. The cable end passes ,out throughslot 21, formed between two fianges22 ofrthe clampingface. A modifiedform of such-clamping face is'shown in F ig- .ure 4 where theeIampingface 20 is shown to be radially knurled or grooved so as to produce .afriction face adaptedrto engage the article to'be clamped down.

In Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a wire 23' clamped down by means ofnut 14:, spring 18, .and cup 19.

In the modified. form of Figure 5, there will be seen a similarconstruction to that shown in Figure 2. In this case, again a block .ofmaterial .24 is hollowed out at 25, to receive head 26 of bolt '27. Thelatter is engaged again by a terminal seat 28, adapted to form a restfor a terminal 29 o'fcab-le '30. The terminal is engaged by the lowersharp end of spring '31, which is held down by means :ofnut 32. This nutis reduced at 33 W impressed into the ma and is engaged by the spring,and a seat 34 is provided for the upper end of the spring, which isrounded off and adapted to glidably engage the face of seat 34;. In thisconstruction, the outer cup for the spring is eliminated and the lowerend of the spring engages the terminal 29 directly.

In Figure 6, there is shown still another modified form in which case abody 35 is shown reinforced by a plate 36. which is provided with atireaded hole engaged by the threaded end of bolt 37. At the upper endof the bolt there is provided a head 38, which is recessed at 39,providing a seat 40 for the spring 41. Below tie lower end of the springll is again either a cable terminal or wire end, indicated at 42, whichrests with its lower face against an anchor plate a3. This plate isshown in detail in Figure 7. It is equipped with prongs 44, adapted tobe clial of the body 35, thus providing a r face for terminal or wire42. The upper dull end of sgring 41 engages the recessed seat port on 40of the head of the bolt, while the lower sharp end of the spring engagesthe terminal or wire 42 directly.

Figure 8 shows another modified form of my device in which a similarconstruction to that in Figure 6 is illustrated with the e};- ceptionthat instead of a bolt with the head permanently attached thereto, astud is em ployed which is threaded at both ends. A block of material 45is shown to be reinforced by a plate 46, which is provided with athreaded hole engaged by the lower threaded end of stud d7.

The upper end of the stud passes tirough a washer 4:8,.upon which restsa terminal or wire end 49. Engaging that wireend is the lower end ofspring 50, its upper end being seated against the seating portion 51 ofnut 52, which is reduced at 53, forming a shank engaged by the spring.

In Figure 9, there is shown a modified form of my device from thatillustri ted in Figure 2. In this case a block of material 53 is ag inshown to have a depression 5 housing Lead 55 of bolt 56. T upperthreaded part of bolt 56 is engaged by a nut- 57. which is recessed at58 providing a seat- 59 for a spring 60. The recess is wide enough toaccomn'zodate a cup 61. The upper open end of the cup and the lowerripheral edge 62 of the nut 21 e so as to prevent the cup fromdisengaging the nut, thus also preventing the spring 60 from fallingout. The lower faceof the cup may be again provided with means forclamping or otherw se holding the wire end (33 or a cable terminal inplace.

A. still further modified form is shown in Figure 10, where a plate (Ais seen engaged by the threaded end 65 0; bolt 66. Disposed between thehead 67 of tie bolt or screw and the inner face of the cup 68, is thecompressed expansion spring 69, the lower end of which is again sharpand adapted to frictionally engage the inner bottom face of the cup. Theouter bottom face of the cup engages again a terminal or Wire 70.

Operation All of the above described devices are adapted to hold orclamp articles by the action of a compressed expansion spring which isclearly shown in its normal, expanded position in Figure 7a.

When the shank, forming either the reduced portion of the nut or thesmooth portion of the bolt, which is engaged by the coiled spring, isturned in the direction in which the spring is wound, the frictionbetween the inner face of the spring and the outer face of the shankcauses the tightening of the spring around the shank, in other words, inthe direction from without to within.

This function of the spring, considered in connection with the cupengaging the outer surface of the spring, will cause a movement of thespring in the direction from the inner face of the cup. In other words,there will be practical y no friction or a lessened frio tion betweenthe inner surface of the cup and the outer surface of the spring at thetime when the nut or bolt is turned in the direction in which the coiledspring is wound.

lVhen this operation is reversed and the belt or nut is turned in thedirection opposite to that in which the coiled spring is wound, thelower sharpened end of the spring, will, so-to-speak, imbed or digitself into the face of the cup and cause the stopping of the springagainst rotation while the shank is turned. In consequence thereof, thefriction between the shank and the coiled spring is lessened oreliminated. .On the other hand, friction is created between the innerface of the cup and the outer face .of the spring. In this manner thefriction created between the outer face of the spring, and inner face ofthe cup, will cause thespring and cup to stand still, while the nut orbolt is permitted to freely turn in the direction opposite to that inwhich the spring is wound, there being no friction between the innerspring face and the shank. Thus, the loosening of the nut and eventuallythe subsequent loosening of the cup is accomplished, whereafter thearticle may be readily removed from below the cup.

The above description applies to the constructions shown in Figures 1,2, 9 and 10.

The same or similar function applies to the construction shown inFigures 5, 6 and 8, with the difference that the spring is not lodged ina cup. In all other respects the function of the spring in conjunctionwith the shank remains identical.

In order that the above assertion be made clear, I might repeat that inthe event the nut is turned in the direction in which the springis'wound, the latter will be drawn together by the friction between theshank and the inner face of the spring. When the bolt or nut is againturned in opposite direction, the lower sharpened end of the spring digsitself, so-to-speak, into the article clamped, and permits the spring toloosen itself from the shank portion of either the nut or bolt, whileallowing the nut or bolt to be readily loosened until the spring itselfbecomes loose enough so that the article clamped thereunder may beremoved.

Particular attention is called to the construction shown in Figures 1, 2and 9, and especially the latter figure, where a complete unit is formedbetween the nut and cup with the spring enclosed by both. The entirecombination may be handled as one unit and attached to or detached froma bolt or screw as such unit. The function of the spring is identical inall forms shown, i. e., when the nut or bolt provided with acylindrical. shank portion is turned forcibly in the direction in whichthe spring is coiled, the spring, having tightened itself around theshank portion, will travel with the nut or bolt. When however, the nutor bolt is forcibly turned in opposite direction to that in which thespring is wound, the spring will remain stationary while it loosensitself from the shank member until the entire device is loosenedsufficiently to remove the article clamped thereby.

It is obvious that this device is applicable for fastening articles inthe electric field where wires, cables and terminals transmitted currentto light, power or ignition devices are depending upon constant andpositive contact. Especially in connection with aeroplanes, automobiles,railroads and machinery and devices sub ected to extreme shocks, orvibrations, my device will find widest use.

While I have shown certain specific forms of my invention, be itunderstood that variations and changes in design and modifications maybe made to meet various conditions. In the drawings there are showndevices with round coil springs. Those springs maybe made of varioussections, as for instance, square or flat for heavy duty service,

while the principle of operation remains the same.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a binding-postcomprising a stationary screw-stud protruding from a terminalrest and arevolvable nut-member havin a reduced extension, a coil-springsurrounding the said screw-stud, the said coilpring having at'least twoturns wound in a'direction opposite to the direction of the threadsofsaid screw-stud, said spring being slightly tapered and placed with itssmaller end around said reduced extension of the nut-member in suchmanner as to grip the sides of said extension, and its other endengaging a member resting on the. terminal to be fastened.

7 2,111 binding-post comprising a stationary screw-stud protruding froma terminalrest and a revolvable nut-member having a rediiiied extension,a coil-spring surrounding said screw-stud, said coil-spring having atleast two turns woundin a direction opposite to the direction oftliethreads of said scre\v stud, cup-shaped member below said spring, saidspring being slightly tapered and placed with its smaller end tightlyengaged around said reduced, extension of the nut-member and withitslarger end entered in said cupshaped member, said cup-shaped memberbeing forced by the tension of said spring in holding engagementwith theterminal to be fastened.

3. For engagement with a screw-stud protruding from a terminal-rest, abinding member comprising a nut having a reduced shankeXtension, anupwardly tapered coil-spring, one end of said coilsp'ring being disposedin constricted gripping engagement about said shank-extension, and aflat bottomed cupshaped member into which the other end of said springis snugly fitted, and said cupshaped member having a bottomfriction-surface adapted to grip the terminal to be fa stened. V Y

g 4. For engagement with a screw-stud protrnding from a terminal-rest, abinding menaber comprising a nut having a reduced shankextension, anupwardly tapered coil-spring having at least two turns wound in adirection opposite to the direction of the threads of the screw-stud,the upper end of said coilspring beingdisp'osed in constrictedengagement about saidshank extension, and a cupshaped member into whichthe lower end of said spring is snugly fitted, said cup-shaped memberbeing adapted to grip the terminal to be fastened.

5. In a binding-post, a nut-member for engagement with a screw-studprotruding from a terminal-rest, said nut-member having a reduced shankat its under side, an upwardly tapered multiturn coil-spring with itsupper end in constricted gripping engagement with said reduced shank ofsaid nut-member, and said coil-springhaving fiat bottomed means at itslower end for gripping the terminal to be fastened.

6. Locking means for screw or bolt-devices for fastening articlescomprising a threaded stationary member, a nut-member engaging thelatter and having a reduced shank-extension, an expansion coil-springwound in a direction opposite to the direction of the threads of saidstationary member, one end of which grippingly surrounds the saidshankextension of said nut-member and a centrally perforated cup-shapedmember tightly surrounding the other end of said expansioncoil-springand adapted to grip the article to be fastened.

7 Locking means for screw or bolt devices for fastening articles,comprising a threaded stationary member, a nut-member engaging thelatter and having a reduced shank-extension, and aneXpansion-coil-spring wound in a direction opposite to the direction ofthe threads of said stationary member, one end of which grips saidshank-extension and the other end of which is provided with means forfrictionally gripping the article to be fastened.

8. In combination with a turnable screwthreaded fastening device havinga smooth cylindrical portion, a tapered coil-spring, the small end ofsaid spring being disposed in constricted gripping engagement about thesmooth cylindrical portion of said fastening device, and the oppositeend of said spring be ing adapted to thrust toward means to be fastenedby the device.

9. In combination with a turnable screwthreaded fastening device havinga smooth cylindrical portion, a tapered coil-spring, the small end ofsaid spring being disposed in constricted gripping engagement aboutthesmooth cylindrical portion of said fastening device, the convolutionsof said spring being pitched in a direction opposite to the unscrewingdirection of rotation of said fastening device, whereby unscrewingmovement of the device tends to more tightly constrict the small end ofsaid spring in gripping relation to the fastening device, and theopposite end of said spring being adapted to thrust toward means to befastened by the device.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this31st day of. December A. D. 1927.

ADOLF SCHNEIDER.

